Spray nozzle

ABSTRACT

A low volume spray nozzle which is comprised of a conventional spray nozzle and a housing enclosing the nozzle but having an opening at the lower end thereof in line with the discharge from the nozzle. A deflector cone is positioned within the housing about the opening permitting a small percentage of the spray to pass through the opening while deflecting the rest into the housing where it can be collected and directed back to the spray supply tank.

United States Patent Charles E. Sheetz Woodstock, Va 780,508

Dec. 2, 1968 June 8, 1971 FMC Corporation San Jose, Calil.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SPRAY NOZZLE 3Claims, 1 Drawing Fig. US. Cl....

Int. Cl Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,463 10/1931 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L King Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Att0rneysF. W. Anderson and C E. Tripp Hammers 239/103 ABSTRACT: A low volume spray nozzle which is comprised of a conventional spray nozzle and a housing enclosing the nozzle but having an opening at the lower end thereof in line with the discharge from the nozzle A deflector cone is positioned within the housing about the opening permitting a small percentage of the spray to pass through the opening while deflecting the rest into the housing where it can be collected and directed back to the spray supply tank.

PATENIEDJuN 8L9?! 35 3534 I N VENTOR. CHARLES E. SHEET! ATTORNEYS SPRAY NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In general, this invention pertains to that field of art concerned with spray nozzles, and more particularly, it pertains to low volume spray nozzles usable with high density liquid spray materials.

2. Description of the Prior Art A problem exists in creating a low volume spray from conventional spray nozzles particularly when the material being sprayed is a high density liquid material such as the resin waxes or other protective coatings applied to fresh fruit and vegetables. A very thin film of wax must be provided on the surface of the fruit and when using this high density liquid material the restricted orifices of the spray nozzles which are necessary for obtaining a low volume spray tend to become clogged.

Probably the most satisfactory low volume nozzle presently commercially available is the pneumatic atomizing nozzle. This nozzle uses separate jets of liquid and air with the air dispersing or atomizing the tiny droplets of liquid and forcing them out through a restricted orifice. However, even with such a spray nozzle, the limitations on orifice size require a greater amount of material to be sprayed per unit of time than is generally necessary in fruit waxing operation in order to prevent clogging problems.

It should also be pointed out that difficult cleaning problems are also presented when small orifices are used as with the present commercially available spray nozzles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a low volume spray nozzle which overcomes the problems presented by the prior art. A conventional spray nozzle may be utilized having a uniform spray pattern of any desired peripheral shape. A housing is then provided around the spray nozzle with an opening at the lower end thereof and a deflector is provided adjacent to the opening and spaced a predetermined distance from the tip of the nozzle to divert the major portion of the spray into the enclosed chamber of the housing while permitting only a small portion of the spray to be directed through the housing. The diverted spray is then collected and returned in a line to the spray material supply tank.

With the device of the present invention plugging problems and cleaning problems are eliminated since a conventional spray nozzle can be utilized which can provide a considerably greater volume of spray than is desired. The housings for the spray nozzles, which function as adapters, are simple in construction and thus economical to manufacture. Furthermore, they are easily removed and adjusted to control the volume of spray as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a central section through the spray nozzle of the present invention and particularly illustrates the manner in which the spray is diverted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing the spray nozzle of the present invention generally comprises a nozzle structure I and a housing 2 surrounding the discharge end of the nozzle and providing a chamber 3 about the nozzle for collecting a predetermined portion of the spray and returning it to the spray material supply tank (not shown) through a return hose 4.

The nozzle 1 may be any conventional low volume nozzle. Preferably, it should be one having a uniform spray pattern ejected from the discharge orifice for more easily controlled results. In the embodiment of the invention shown, a conical spray S issues from the orifice which spray is uniform in density throughout any circular plane normal to the direction of movement of the spray particles. Of course, nozzles having other types of spray patterns could be used if so desired. A cylindrical adapter section 6 is fitted to the rearward end of the nozzle so that the nozzle may be mounted for adjustment without the housing.

Housing 2 functions as an adapter for the nozzle 1 and comprises a generally cylindrical tubing member having a lower portion 10 spaced outwardly from the nozzle and a reduced upper portion 8 into which is fitted a bearing 9 for mounting the adapter section 6 of the nozzle. The lower portion of the housing is provided with a circular opening 11 concentric with the axis of the housing and defining an annular shoulder 12 to catch droplets of liquid which may run down the outer surface of the deflector. Adjacent to narrow l1 and spaced slightlythereabove is a narrow, integrally formed lip 13. This lip is used to support a removable conical deflector 14 which is further retained within the lower end of the housing by means of a spacer ring 15 fitted therein and located just about the outer edge of the deflector.

The deflector of the preferred embodiment is seen to comprise a conical member with an orifice 18 at the upper end thereof located concentrically in the spray housing. This ori fice is defined by a sharp knife edge of circular shape from which the conical side surface 20 of the deflector slopes outwardly to the interior wall of the housing.

At the lower end of the housing an aperture 22 is provided in the sidewall. This aperture mounts a cylindrical fitting 23 and places it in communication with the housing chamber 3 just above the lower edge of the deflector 14 thereby serving as a drain for the chamber. The fitting receives the spray deflected from the interior walls of the chamber and the sloping surface 20 of the deflector and directs it into the attached hose 4 which, in turn directs it back to the spray material supply tank.

The aperture 22 extends beyond the lower edge of the deflector 14 so that liquid droplets, which adhere to and run down the outer surface 21 of the deflector, can be removed through hose 4 to prevent drippage of the liquid through aperture 11 and onto the work objects.

The lower portion 10 of the housing is split at 25 into two pieces, an upper piece 26, integral with the reduced portion 8, and a lower piece 28 which contains the aperture 22. Both upper piece 26 and the lower piece 28 are fitted onto a lining 30 of the housing and it will be seen from the drawing that they each can be slidably separated from the other. Separation of the lower piece 28 from the remainder of the housing enables one to remove and replace the deflector 14. By simply sliding the spacer ring 15 out of the then open end of the lower piece 28, the deflector is free to be removed. Thus, it is possible to replace deflectors which have been damaged or to change deflectors that give an undesirable spray pattern, without replacing the entire unit.

When the sprayer is assembled, the nozzle 1 is located within the bearing 9 of the housing and is carefully adjusted in position by means of a thumbscrew 24 which extends through the upper portion 8 of the housing and the bearing member 9 to firmly clamp the nozzle in place. The nozzle is positioned with its discharge orifice 5 located a fixed distance from the orifice 18 of the deflector which serves to divide the spray issuing from the nozzle. With the nozzle providing a wide angle conical spray and with the deflector 14 allowing only a small percentage of this spray to pass through the housing, only a very low volume of liquid is directed outwardly to the objects which are sprayed. Hence, a low volume spray is achieved without the restricting orifices found in the prior art. It can be seen that the spray from the primary nozzle 1 would ordinarily provide a circular spray pattern over a large diameter X if the adapter housing of the present invention were not provided. The housing limits the spray at the same distance to a pattern with a small diameter y. It will be obvious that the adjustment of the nozzle position with respect to the deflector determines the percentage of the spray permitted to pass through the housing; as the nozzle is moved closer to the deflector a greater percentage is emitted, and as the nozzle is moved further away from the deflector a smaller percentage will be discharged from the housing. By using the conventional low volume, uniform pattern spray nozzles presently commercially available, a reduction of 99 percent or better in the total volume of the spray emitted can be achieved.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the spray which does not pass through the orifice 18 is deflected either on the sloping surface 20 of the deflector or on the inner cylindrical surface of the housing and is eventually directed through the aperture 22 in the lower sidewall of the housing to be returned to the spray supply tank. The pressure within the chamber 3 will normally build up to some level above atmospheric since the spray in the nozzle will be under a relatively high pressure which factor aids in forcing the unused spray back into the return line 4.

In one embodiment of the invention a standard spray nozzle was used and was positioned with its jet opening l iinches from a deflector orifice of three-eighths inches diameter. With this arrangement, 90 percent of the spray was deflected back to the supply tank and only percent of the spray was utilized.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the spray nozzle of the present invention provides a simple and rapidly adjustable structure for providing a low volume and uniform pattern of spray without requiring small passageways or discharge orifices subject to clogging.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modifications and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. An adapter for a spray nozzle for providing a low volume spray, said adapter comprising a tubular housing enc0m passing said nozzle including an inner member of rigid material and a pair of outer members fitted about said inner member in abutting relationship, one of said outer members having a spray opening at one end thereof positioned in alignment with said nozzle, said one of said outer members also including an inwardly projecting shoulder, a deflector received upon said shoulder comprising a thin deflecting wall inclined radially inwardly toward said nozzle, said deflector being positioned about said spray opening for deflecting a portion of said spray to the interior of said housing adjacent said shoulder and being provided with an orifice at the apex of its deflecting surface for permitting the remainder of said spray to pass through said spray opening and out of said adapter, means for removably retaining said deflector upon said shoulder, and means for draining the deflected spray from said housing.

2. An adapter for a spray nozzle according to claim ll wherein said means for draining housing deflected spray includes an outlet position said one of said thumbscrew being provided with a discharge opening therein extending radially through the wall of said outer member in alignment clamp said shoulder, said outlet conduit being connected for fluid com munication with said discharge opening whereby said deflected spray which is present on both side of said deflecting wall of the deflector will be directed to said fluid conduit and will not be permitted to collect within said housing or to drip from the edges of said spray opening.

3. An adapter for a spray nozzle according to claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said deflector within the housing comprising a spacer ring fitted within said one of said outer members in alignment with said inner member.

Po-ww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 56 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 583,634 Dated February 7, l972 Charles E. Sheetz Inventor (s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r Column 2, line 4, "without" should be --within-. Column 4, line 18, delete housing" and insert --the-. Column 4, line 19, "position" should be -circuit,--. Column 4, line 19,

delete "thumbscrew" and add outer members--. Column 4, line 21, delete "clamp" and insert with-. Column 4, line 30, "comprising should be --c0mprises-.

med and sealed this 16th I]??? of May 1972.

At sc:

A we rs 1; n5; Officer Commissioner of PH tents 

1. An adapter for a spray nozzle for providing a low volume spray, said adapter comprising a tubular housing encompassing said nozzle including an inner member of rigid material and a pair of outer members fitted about said inner member in abutting relationship, one of said outer members having a spray opening at one end thereof positioned in alignment with said nozzle, said one of said outer members also including an inwardly projecting shoulder, a deflector received upon said shoulder comprising a thin deflecting wall inclined radially inwardly toward said nozzle, said deflector being positioned about said spray opening for deflecting a portion of said spray to the interior of said housing adjacent said shoulder and being provided with an orifice at the apex of its deflecting surface for permitting the remainder of said spray to pass through said spray opening and out of said adapter, means for removably retaining said deflector upon said shoulder, and means for draining the deflected spray from said housing.
 2. An adapter for a spray nozzle according to claim 1 wherein said means for draining housing deflected spray includes an outlet position said one of said thumbscrew being provided with a discharge opening therein extending radially through the wall of said outer member in alignment clamp said shoulder, said outlet conduit being connected for fluid communication with said discharge opening whereby said deflEcted spray which is present on both side of said deflecting wall of the deflector will be directed to said fluid conduit and will not be permitted to collect within said housing or to drip from the edges of said spray opening.
 3. An adapter for a spray nozzle according to claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said deflector within the housing comprising a spacer ring fitted within said one of said outer members in alignment with said inner member. 